Sealed package and method of producing same



Oct. 21, 1969 w. L. WAGNER 3,473,684

SEALED PACKAGE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed Oct. 5. 1968 INVENTOR.WAREem LWAQMER AITOR new 3,473,684 SEALED PACKAGE AND METHOD OFPRODUCING SAME Warren 1.. Wagner, Temperance, Mich., assignor toOwens-Illinois, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 3, 1968, Ser. No.764,793 Int. Cl. B65d 41/04, 53/00; B21d 51/50 US. Cl. 21540 5 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sealed package in which the neck of a glassbottle has upper and lower axially spaced-apart annular cap supportingbands or surfaces, the lower band being of greater diameter than theupper, and there being screw-threads on the neck between the bands withtheir crest at about a tapered imaginary line connecting the two bandsand a sheet metal or aluminum closure cap including a frustoconicalunthreaded skirt telescoped over the neck, the skirt being firmlysupported on the bands while being deformed to produce threads tailoredto and holdingly engaging the screw-threads on the neck.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a sealedpackage, a glass container, for example, to the finish or neck of whicha deformable skirted sheet metal closure cap is tailored in such fashionas will produce a wrinkle-free skirt portion.

Heretofore, as disclosed in Stover Patent No. 2,891,366, for example,tailoring of a sort, has been practiced, such involving loosely placinga plain metal closure cap over a straight-sided externallyscrew-threaded container neck and then reforming the skirt into holdingengagement with the threads on the container. This specific procedure,however, unavoidably creates a multiplicity of axial wrinkles or minutefolds in the skirt which materially detract from the appearance of thecap as a whole.

I have discovered that if firmly supported by the container finish, bothabove and below the area to be threaded (whether continuous or multiplescrew-threads are involved) during tailoring r shaping of the skirt tothe finish, the applied closure cap not only is securely yet removablyaflixed to the container, but additionally the skirt is wrinkle-free.Accordingly, an important object of my invention is the provision of asealed package and method of producing same wherein the container finishhas external screw-threads and annular cap supporting bands or surfacesabove and below the threaded area, such bands contacting the plainfrusto-conical skirt of a sheet metal closure cap at the time of initialplacement of the cap over the finish, thereby to support the cap shellduring reforming of the skirt by a fluid force or its equivalent.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sideelevational view of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of theinvention, the closure being supported in two axially spaced-apartannular zones preparatory to tailoring the skirt to the screw-threads onthe container finish;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2, but with the skirt reshaped to engage thecontainer threads;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 2, but with only a side-seal gasket or ringand a somewhat modified finish; and

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 2, but utilizing a plastisol seal whichextends the full height of the cap skirt and over the container neckrim.

hired States Patent 0 3,473,684 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 Essentially, thepresent invention provides effective tailoring of pliable or deformablesheet metal closure caps to glass container finishes or necks. Inconventional practice, both the container finish and closure cap arescrew-threaded prior to assembling same and, because of dimensionalallowance and tolerance required in volume production methods, the partsat times do not perform satisfactorily. Even currently practiced effortsto tailor closures to containers is unsatisfactory because of improperlydesigned container finishes and closure caps and the total absence ofany suitable support for the closure by the finish during skirtreshaping.

In accordance with my invention, as illustrated herein, the container Cincludes a mouth-defining neck 10' or finish which terminates in atransversely rounded rim 11 merging with the upper margin of adownwardly flared or sloping side-sealing surface 12 which encircles theneck 10. At the lower margin of this sealing surface 12 is an annularband or cap-supporting surface 13 and spaced axially downwardlytherefrom is a second annular supporting surface 14, the latter being ofsomewhat greater diameter than the surface 13. Between these two bandsor supporting surfaces 13 and 14 is a multiple screw-thread 15 which,near the second or lower band 14 is relatively deep, such howeverdecreasing gradually in depth upwardly toward the uppermost band 13.Thus, in an ideal container, the rest of the screw-thread 15 will justabout touch an imaginary flared line connecting the two bands orsurfaces 13 and 14. These two surfaces provide immediate firm support intwo spacedapart annular zones of a pliable or deformable aluminum orsheet metal closure cap 15a.

This closure cap 15a comprises a circular panel 16 and a downwardlyflared attaching skirt 17 which may have at its lower margin the usualwire edge 18 or curl. The skirt is unthreaded, as manufactured. Theflare, or taper, of the skirt 17 corresponds closely to the taper of theimaginary line referred to above, so that upon placement of the cap overthe container neck and the application of suitable pressure to the cap,the skirt 17 will, in two axially spaced-apart zones, firmly contact thebands 13 and 14 and support the cap circumferentially.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, a sealing ring 19 or gasket may be a rubber, plastisolor some similar material, lying against the side sealing surface 12and/or if desired, extending over the rim 11 of the neck, in part toprotect the cap liner (a lacquer coating) against possible chipping orflaking. With the closure cap positioned as in FIG. 2, apparatus similargenerally to that in the Stover patent, reshapes the skirt 17 betweensaid hands into firm holding engagement with the screw-threads on theneck or finish. Thus sealing of the package is completed. Without theflared skirt and the bands to support the plain cap shell during actualtailoring of the skirt to the finish, objectionable skirt wrinklingwould be present.

In FIG. 4, a sealing ring 20 may be rubber or other like material andlies against an annular concave sidesealing surface 21.

In FIG. 5, the structure differs from FIGS. 2 and 3 only in extending asealing ring 22 or gasket the entire height of the skirt 17 so as toprevent insect infestation. Here too the plastisol may provide sideand/or top seal.

Further modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container comprising a mouth-defining neck portionhaving a circular rim end and provided exteriorly near said rim end withtwo axially spacedapart annular cap skirt supporting surfaces, thatsurface nearer the rim being of lesser diameter than the other saidsurface and there being screw-threads on the neck between said annularsurfaces projecting radially outward to about a plane represented by animaginary line connecting the two surfaces, a deformable cup-like sheetmetal closure cap including a generally frusto-conical attaching skirttelescoped over said neck and firmly contacting the annular surfaces,the skirt being deformed in an area between said annular surfaces tocreate protuberances holdingly engaging said screw-threads.

2. In a combination as defined in claim 1, the neck portion having anexternal annular side-sealing surface at said rim end and sealing meanslying against said sidesealing surface.

3. In a combination as defined in claim 2, the sealing means extendingradially inward over the rim end of the neck portion.

4. In a combination as defined in claim 2, the sealing means being ofsuch axial extent as to also contact both said annular supportingsurfaces.

5. The method which consists in telescoping a gasketed deformableskirted sheet metal closure cap of frustoconical form and devoid ofscrew-threads over a mouthdefining neck of a container, firmlysupporting the cap by contacting the skirt in two axially spaced-apartannular areas with correspondingly spaced-apart annular surfaces on theneck, there being screw-threads on the container neck between saidannular surfaces, and finally reshaping the skirt between said areasinto holding engagement with the screw-threads.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1967 Andersen et al. 2l542 XR2/1967 Osborne et al. 215-40 XR US. Cl. X.R. l13121; 21543

